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Officer Drives SUV Over Woman In The Sand

By Eddie Farah

The woman run over by a police SUV while she was lying on the sand is reported to be in critical condition.

The Jacksonville Beach police officer was on patrol and driving a sport utility vehicle, a Chevrolet Trailblazer around 3:15 when he appeared to have turned around the area that 41-year-old Anne Marie Giffin of Jacksonville way laying.

Bystanders who witnessed the incident say a bunch of people pulled her out from under the vehicle, while some reports say they lifted the car off her. Regardless, the woman was reported to be bleeding, unresponsive and shaking. She was taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital after the Friday incident and is now reported to be in critical condition.

Our condolences go out to Giffin for this incident as well as our wishes for a speedy recovery.

As of Saturday, the police department was not denying what happened just that Officer Lewis Keller didn't see the sunbather. Whether any discipline is forthcoming is under review as is an investigation.

The investigation no doubt will take into consideration the terrain. Reportedly there were no dunes or any brush that might hide the woman, in fact it was a flat area. The accident happened at 3:15 pm, so the sun was not too low to block anyone's visibility. Was he on the cell phone, texting or otherwise or otherwise distracted? Was there alcohol or drugs involved? How fast was he going? Witnesses will be asked many questions to put together the facts.

Unlike some other beaches, Florida still allows vehicle on the beach, however there are limitations when there is sea turtle season, May through October, or on sensitive dunes. Is it time to scale back sas we have more visitors to our area? That may not be a bad idea nor is considering an ATVs or smaller vehicles. We already know SUV's have a terrible reputation for visibility on the roads. Why should the sand be much better?

At this point, it remains an unusual occurrence, but running over an innocent person on the sand should not be taken lightly and the department will have to consider whether this is an incident of an individual acting recklessly, or whether there is a real risk to the public at large that is worth the convenience of covering the beach in a large vehicle. #

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on May 02, 2009 (boomark / email).